Perambulating
There you were –
hiding on the clearance rack
in Marshall’s
feather-light black and white
Merrells marked down to $15
my mother would have snagged
you and bragged about you
for weeks on end
I picked you up and cradled you
twisted you
curved you
bent you
tried you on
considered you carefully –
your ability to cooperate with
all the other players
no laces
full foot support
and – most importantly –
covered toes for crowded
places where people squeeze
breathe
pack tightly together
inhale, exhale
the shared air
of every other passenger
unknowing carriers
“Want to explore Europe on a dime?”
you jumped straight out of the box
hugged my feet
like rescued puppies
held on tightly for the ride
for the next two weeks’
whirlwind world traveling
I chose you – and only you
the solitary pair
for my minimalist-minded
one-carry-on journey
you carried me
perambulating
through airports
on night trains
on streetcars
on subways
on buses
on boats
and on foot
down city streets
you brought me face to face
with Big Ben
Westminster Abby
the Eiffel tower
the Brandenburg gate
the Colosseum
the Duomo
and the recently charred Notre Dame
that never struck us as fiery foreshadowing
you gripped your heels against the edge
of the Trevi Fountain as we
stood together
tossed one single coin
backwards
right hand over left shoulder
to guarantee a return visit
to these breathtaking streets
and never once
in all our adventures
did we stop and think,
“better savor every sight
of this window on the world
before it is forever changed”
Common Threads 